Privacy Journal released a 2025 update of their annual study, “Safest States for Online Dating.” It compares 100 U.S. cities across six major risk factors — identity theft, romance scams, fraud reports, STD incidence, registered sex offenders, and violent crime rates, to reveal where online dating is safest and most dangerous this year.
North and south Carolina among the riskiest states for online dating in 2025, according to an annual study by Privacyjournal.net.
Key findings at a glance:
- Vermont ranks as the safest state for online dating, with the lowest STD rate and second-lowest identity theft numbers.
- Close behind: Maine (lowest violent crime) and New Hampshire (though all three Northeastern leaders report high romance scam cases).
- Most dangerous: Nevada, ranking near the bottom in nearly every safety category, followed by Alaska.
- New Jersey has the fewest registered sex offenders (50 per 100,000), while Oregon has the highest (790 per 100,000).
- Arizona reports the most romance scam cases, while Mississippi the fewest.
- Louisiana tops the list for STD incidence, ahead of Alaska and Mississippi.
- South Carolina ranks as the 7th most dangerous state for online dating in 2025, driven by high numbers in nearly every risk category: an STD rate of 888.9, 468.2 violent crimes, 340 registered sex offenders, and 324 fraud reports per 100,000 residents.
- North Carolina also appears in the top 20, coming in as the 16th most dangerous state. It reports a slightly higher STD rate at 901.9, alongside 373.75 violent crimes, 266 sex offenders, and 285 fraud cases per 100,000 people — highlighting the continued risks across the region.
